Senior lunches up and running!

On May 2, the Manchester Senior Café had their grand opening. OCED Director Toni Kayumi, Manchester Mayor Pat Vailliencourt, and Pastor Susan Hitts of Manchester United Methodist Church were all in attendance. Photo courtesy of Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development.

by Marsha Chartrand 

“Meeting up for lunch” used to be a common thing and no one seemed to think twice about it. It was a time to get out with friends, have some good food, some socialization, stay involved with friends and community, all at a very reasonable price.

Since COVID, things have been very different. Connections have changed. Work friends have retired or moved. It’s been harder to schedule time out, get social with others, and stay involved in what’s going on.

“And whether or not we want to admit it, there’s kind of a stigma, you know, about being ‘a senior citizen’ among our youngest seniors,” said Pat Vailliencourt. “It isn’t always easy to attract someone by offering a senior citizens’ lunch.”

But now, we have The Senior Café in Manchester! On Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until 1 pm senior citizens can have lunch for a suggested donation of $3–$5; those under 60 can join in for $5.50 a meal at Manchester United Methodist Church.

It’s not a “free lunch,” but it’s as close as you’re going to get these days — reasonably priced, nutritionally balanced, and served on a regular basis.

Plus, all proceeds from the meals support the purchase of kitchen appliances for the renovation for the new senior center, bringing three diverse groups of volunteers together. The Manchester Area Senior Citizens Council provides leadership while the Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development facilitates food and regulatory guidance. The Manchester United Methodist Church is opening its doors to make space for all of this to happen.

To make it work, however, they need just one more thing: People to eat the meals! This is all part of a Patronicity grant that will be used to raise money for new equipment for the senior center.

Want to join them? Call Charlene at (517) 262-7828 by Monday of the week you will be eating so that she can get you in the lunch count.

“We’re doing a lot of good things; we’re having fun; we’re providing programs for all seniors in the Manchester area; we’ve even been dubbed by the county as the ‘little train engine that won’t quit’,” Vailliencourt said. “We’ve had so many false starts and this is the one that is working!”

Please help the senior program grow … join up and be part of Manchester’s future!

Having lunch at The Senior Café at Manchester United Methodist Church. Pictured: Ellen O’Sullivan, Jane Talcott, Pat Vailliencourt, and Mary Anzalone. Photo courtesy of Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.